How to Enroll in the VA Health Registry for PFAS-Exposed Veterans

The Short Answer

Vets often search for a “PFAS registry” at the VA. There is no one program by that name. But four VA programs cover vets who were exposed to PFAS. Each one fits a different group. Most vets fit at least one. Some fit two or three.

The four programs are:

1. VA Toxic Exposure Screening (TES) — open to every vet. A 5-to-10-minute screening, not a claim. Required under the 2022 PACT Act.
2. Camp Lejeune Family Member Program (CLFMP) — for vets and family who lived at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987.
3. Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry — for vets who served in Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, or other listed areas after 1990.
4. VA disability claim for PFAS-linked conditions — for vets with a health condition the VA may link to PFAS exposure.

This guide walks each one. Pick the ones that fit you and start there.

Why This Matters

PFAS (the “forever chemicals” used in fire foam) have been found in ground water at many U.S. bases. The DOD is in a multi-year test and clean-up plan.

Vets who served at these bases — or used fire foam (AFFF) at work — may have been exposed. Some PFAS-linked health issues show up years later. Filing now sets up future care.

Program 1: VA Toxic Exposure Screening (TES)

What it is: A short health screening any vet in VA care can get. It started under the PACT Act in 2022. It asks about your service to flag possible toxic risks.

Who can enroll: Every vet. No proof of exposure needed. The screening itself is the start.

How to enroll:

1. If you are not in VA health care yet, sign up. (Use the enrollment link in the VA Links section below.)
2. At your next VA visit, ask for a Toxic Exposure Screening. By law, the VA must give you one.
3. The screening takes 5 to 10 minutes. It is a set of questions, not a blood test.
4. If it flags a risk, the VA will refer you to follow-up care or a registry.

Why bother: The TES does not give you benefits on its own. It puts a flag on your VA record. If you later file a claim for a linked condition, the flag is on file.

Program 2: Camp Lejeune Family Member Program (CLFMP)

What it is: A VA program that pays for care for 15 conditions linked to Camp Lejeune water from 1953 to 1987. Open to both vets and family.

Who can enroll:

• Vets who served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 added-up days from August 1953 through December 1987.
• Family (spouses, kids, in-utero babies) who lived on base for at least 30 added-up days in that window.

How to enroll:

1. Go to the Camp Lejeune program page at va.gov. (Link in the VA Links section below.)
2. Read the list of 15 covered conditions. (See our Camp Lejeune water guide for the full list.)
3. Print and fill out VA Form 10-10068 (for family) or VA Form 10-10EZ (for vets).
4. Mail or fax the form to the VA Camp Lejeune team. The address is on the form.
5. Add proof of time on base: housing records, school records, service records.

Why bother: Once approved, the VA pays for care for the 15 conditions. For family, this is one of the few paths to VA-paid care — most VA care is for vets only.

Program 3: Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry

What it is: A free health registry for vets near burn pits, oil well fires, or other air harm during service. Open since 2014. Many linked health issues overlap with PFAS-linked ones.

Who can enroll: Vets who served in Southwest Asia after August 1990, or in post-9/11 areas (Afghanistan, Djibouti, and others).

How to enroll:

1. Go to the Burn Pit Registry site. (Link in the VA Links section below.)
2. Sign in with your VA, DOD, or ID.me account.
3. Complete the online form. It takes 30 to 40 minutes.
4. Schedule a free in-person exam with a VA provider (optional but useful).

Why bother:Like the TES, this flags your VA record for risk. The VA uses the data to track new harm over time. Past registry data has helped grow the VA's linked-by-default lists.

Program 4: VA Disability Claim for PFAS-Linked Conditions

What it is: The main path to VA pay. If you have a health issue that may be linked to PFAS in your service, you can file a claim.

Conditions the VA may link to PFAS (this list keeps growing under the PACT Act):

• Kidney cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Liver issues
• High cholesterol
• Ulcerative colitis
• Some immune system conditions

For Camp Lejeune service, 8 conditions are linked by default. The VA assumes the link with no extra proof beyond your time on base.

Who can file: Any vet with a service-linked health condition. You do not have to be 100% sure of the link. The VA reviews the claim.

How to file:

1. Go to the VA disability claim page. (Link in the VA Links section below.)
2. Sign in with your VA, DOD, or ID.me account. You can also file by mail or in person.
3. Fill out VA Form 21-526EZ.
4. Add medical records that show your current condition.
5. Add service records that show where you served.
6. If a fellow vet can confirm your exposure, add a buddy statement.
7. Submit.

The VA will review and may schedule a C&P exam. The full process takes 3 to 8 months.

Free help with the claim: You do not have to pay for help. VSOs at the VFW, American Legion, DAV, and state vet offices help at no cost. Use the VSO link in the VA Links section below.

Which Program Fits You?

Quick sort:

• Every vet — start with the Toxic Exposure Screening (Program 1). Easy. Free. No claim.
• Camp Lejeune service or family — add the Family Member Program (Program 2).
• Post-1990 Southwest Asia service — add the Burn Pit Registry (Program 3).
• Have a current health condition — file a disability claim (Program 4).

You can do all four. They do not block each other.

Common Questions Before You Enroll

Will registry enrollment hurt my future health care? No. Enrolling does not raise your rates. It does not flag you for review. It only adds your name to a tracking list and (in some cases) gets you a free exam.

Do I have to pay anything? No. All four programs are free. Free to enroll. Free for the screening or exam.

What if I do not have my service records? Request them at the VA records site. (Link below.) It takes 4 to 6 weeks by mail.

What if I am not yet in VA health care? Apply first. Most vets with honorable service qualify. Even with private insurance, VA enrollment can stack with it for many services.

What if my condition is not on the linked list? File the claim anyway. The VA reviews case by case. The list keeps growing.

Step-By-Step: Day One Plan

If you are starting cold and want a clean order:

1. Today. Apply for VA health care if you are not enrolled yet.
2. This week. Pull your DD-214 and any service records you can find. Note your dates and bases.
3. Next month at your VA visit. Ask for a Toxic Exposure Screening. Tell the screener about any PFAS or water concerns from your service.
4. Same month. If you fit the Camp Lejeune dates, apply for the CLFMP. If you fit the Burn Pit Registry, register online.
5. If you have a current health condition. Find a VSO at the VFW, American Legion, or DAV. They will help you file a claim at no cost.

The full first round takes about 30 to 60 days of patient paperwork. The benefits last a lifetime.

Quick Recap

• There is no single “PFAS registry” at the VA. There are four programs.
• Toxic Exposure Screening: every vet. 5 to 10 minutes at your next VA visit.
• Camp Lejeune Family Member Program: vets and family with 30+ days at the base from 1953 to 1987.
• Burn Pit Registry: vets who served in Southwest Asia or post-9/11 areas.
• Disability claim: file if you have a current condition linked to PFAS exposure.
• All four are free. You can do all four.
• Get free claim help from a VSO.

Common Questions

If you want to filter your home water for PFAS now, see our filter guide.